Publisher commends NIJ for Zero Tolerance For Sexual Harassment

The publisher of Eko Hot Blog, Otunba TJ Abass has commended the Nigeria Institute of Journalism’s proactive approach in addressing the sexual harassment charges levied against one of its lecturers

According to Otunba Abass: “The setting up of a panel to investigate the allegation and eventual dismissal of the accused lecturer speaks volume about the institution.

It is a testimonial to the doctrine of fairness and equity that has always been the mantra of the foremost institution.”

Otunba Abass who is himself an alumnus of the institution maintained that every student must not just feel safe in school but their privacy must be respected.

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“The rights of every student must be protected. Their privacy must be respected and no female students deserve such humiliation,” he concluded.

Last year, the BBC published a documentary called ‘Sex For Grades’ that detailed the abuse if power prevalent in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.

The affected Unilag lecturer, Dr. Boniface was fired from the University after that with more institutions putting structures in place to deal with issues like that.

In 2018, Prof. Richard Akindele, a lecturer in Obafemi Awolowo University came under fire for demanding sex for grades from a student and was subsequently fired by the university.

A few days ago, another student from OAU recorded a Dr. Bisi Olaleye trying to sexually harass her in school. The university has taken it up and halved the lecturer’s salary pending the conclusion of investigations.

Otunba Abass subsequently called for institutions of higher learning to provide stiffer penalties for lecturers who take advantage of their positions to harass students or to give away marks in exchange for sex.